‘Get Lobbying’ For Welsh Agency Director

Fears have been expressed that the creation of a new “super agency” covering all equality issues could result in Welsh input being downgraded.
In October, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be launched, taking over from three existing bodies – the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.

 
We can reveal there have been concerns in the equality sector after initial appointments to the new body did not include directors for Wales and Scotland. Currently the three commissions that are being amalgamated do have directors in Wales.

A series of anonymised emails sent to Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Social Justice Minister Leanne Wood suggests that more vigorous lobbying is required.

One of the emails says, “I am even less convinced of the quiet approach since the Scots went public. I suspect that the intense pressure on everyone concerned with CEHR to get at least most things in place for the launch in October means that only problems that demand attention will be addressed. Failure [to have a director in Wales] from the beginning will do lasting damage to the reputation and credibility of the organisation in Wales.”